12 weeks in Jail for offensive web posts about poor April Jones

My name is URL · 08-10-2012 7:30pm #1

The guy that was arrested for making a joke yesterday has been jailed for three months

Matthew Woods, 19, from Chorley, Lancashire, has admitted making grossly offensive comments about the five year old girl, missing schoolgirl April Jones on his Facebook page after getting the idea from Sickipedia, a website that trades in sick jokes.

Woods also wrote comments of sexually explicit nature which so outraged members of the public that they reported the page to the police.

As word spread of Woods’ actions on Saturday, a vigilante mob of around 50 people descended upon his house. He was arrested for his own safety and taken into custody.

Martina Jay, for the prosecution, told Chorley Magistrates Court that Woods admitted to officers that he was responsible for the postings about April and also about the missing child Madeline McCann.

I wonder if the vigilante mob will also be arrested and jailed for dangerous and threatening behavior :rolleyes:

Scioch · 08-10-2012 7:33pm

My name is URL wrote: »

The guy that was arrested for making a joke yesterday has been jailed for three months

I wonder if the vigilante mob will also be arrested and jailed for dangerous and threatening behavior :rolleyes:

Is the moral of this story to start getting together in angry mods and descending on the homes of all the dirt bag TD's and bankers to get them arrested ? Cos I'll do it.

tigger123 · 08-10-2012 7:37pm

My name is URL wrote: »

The guy that was arrested for making a joke yesterday has been jailed for three months

I wonder if the vigilante mob will also be arrested and jailed for dangerous and threatening behavior :rolleyes:

People need to realise that the things you post online are not viewed in the same way as the jokes you crack when you're around your friends.

My name is URL · 08-10-2012 7:42pm

tigger123 wrote: »

People need to realise that the things you post online are not viewed in the same way as the jokes you crack when you're around your friends.

He posted it on his own Facebook page. If he had posted it on a family member's page then I could understand the outrage. People will have had to go looking for the post just so they could be offended by it.

And the mob of 50 people that descended on the wrong address are guilty of a more serious crime than making a tasteless joke. Presumably they intended to dish out their own punishment.

HeyThereDeliah · 08-10-2012 7:47pm

tigger123 wrote: »

People need to realise that the things you post online are not viewed in the same way as the jokes you crack when you're around your friends.

People also need to realise that not everyone is as interested or outraged at things that happen in the world. People have to be allowed their own opinions even if everyone does not agree with them.

08-10-2012 7:48pm

Has anyone else read the joke? I was expecting something original and vile but it was just a run-of-the-mill bad joke. Unbelievable stuff.

steve9859 · 08-10-2012 7:50pm

My name is URL wrote: »

He posted it on his own Facebook page. If he had posted it on a family member's page then I could understand the outrage. People will have had to go looking for the post just so they could be offended by it.

That's not true....posting on our own page is the same as effectively sending the message to all your friends, as it appears in all their news feeds. It's effectively the same as sending a tweet to your followers on twitter.

annettea · 08-10-2012 7:53pm

does anyone know what he said? Cant find it anywhere..

08-10-2012 7:56pm

annettea wrote: »

does anyone know what he said? Cant find it anywhere..

A pun comparison involving the timing of Santa's visiting children and a paedophilic act as if carried out by the suspect.

Latchy · 08-10-2012 8:30pm

HeyThereDeliah wrote: »

People also need to realise that not everyone is as interested or outraged at things that happen in the world. People have to be allowed their own opinions even if everyone does not agree with them.

From the Telegraph -

A man who posted ''despicable'' comments on his Facebook page about missing April Jones has been jailed for 12 weeks.

Perhaps he will learn about manners and respect while locked up ...god knows he hasn't any .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/9594228/April-Jones-Facebook-troll-jailed-for-despicable-comments.html#

ibarelycare · 08-10-2012 8:32pm

What was he jailed for? What law did he break? This is absolutely ridiculous.

Melion · 08-10-2012 8:37pm

How the hell can someone get jailed for that? What in the name of christ was he charged with?

the_monkey · 08-10-2012 8:37pm

And again the disgusting nazi police run UK state send a guy to jail for being an idiot.

What he said was tasteless and he has no respect or compassion, but f*ck he does not deserve jail.

In a few years they will be sending people to Jail for sexist comments, or
just calling people an as*hole...

Disgusting Nazi state.

My name is URL · 08-10-2012 8:56pm

ibarelycare wrote: »

What was he jailed for? What law did he break? This is absolutely ridiculous.

Well he plead guilty to 'sending a grossly offensive public electronic communication'.. I can't find any info about that specific law though.

According to the BBC, the main reason he was sentenced is because of the public reaction to what he said.

The reason for the sentence is the seriousness of the offence, the public outrage that has been caused and we felt there was no other sentence this court could have passed which conveys to you the abhorrence that many in society feel this crime should receive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-19869710

Since when do the angered masses get to dictate on what sentence a judge hands down?

Sparks43 · 08-10-2012 8:59pm

If Public opinion decides sentences then the whole judicial system is worthless

Try people by Law not Opinion

The Big Red Button · 08-10-2012 9:07pm

I'm shocked that yer man was even brought to court because of the Facebook thing - never mind being jailed for it.

Presumably this fella will lose his job (if he has one) - if not, he'll be pretty much unemployable. For making a crap joke, on his own Facebook page?! The punishment way exceeds the "crime" - destroying his life, over making some stupid joke.

I assume that this is the first case of its kind - how was he even to know?

What law was he breaking, for that matter? It's completely wrong.

I wouldn't be as insensitive as to make jokes about this little girl, but I've made (and laughed at) some fairly distasteful jokes in my time. Where do you draw the line?!

What about the hundreds/thousands of people all over England who have posted Madeleine McCann jokes to their Facebook (in fact, I'm pretty sure there were Facebook pages set up just for this.) Princess Diana jokes. Michael Jackson jokes. "Dead baby" jokes. Those crappy "why did the girl fall off the swing" jokes. Are people who made these jokes all going to be at risk of being jailed for it, now? As I said, where do you draw the line?

For the record, I don't think I've ever found any of the above-mentioned jokes funny. But humour is subjective. If I'm uncomfortable with someone else's sense of humour, I'll probably avoid being in that person's company (or, in this case, I'd not be friends with them on Facebook.) You can't control what people do and don't find funny.

He wasn't harming anyone, it's not like he was posting it on the family's Facebook pages or anything.

It's a really stupid and dangerous precedent to be setting, in my opinion.

_feedback_ · 08-10-2012 9:15pm

chatterpillar wrote: »

I'm shocked that yer man was even brought to court because of the Facebook thing - never mind being jailed for it.

Presumably this fella will lose his job (if he has one) - if not, he'll be pretty much unemployable. For making a crap joke, on his own Facebook page?! The punishment way exceeds the "crime" - destroying his life, over making some stupid joke.

I assume that this is the first case of its kind - how was he even to know? What law was he breaking, for that matter? It's completely wrong.

I wouldn't be as insensitive as to make jokes about this little girl, but I've made (and laughed at) some fairly distasteful jokes in my time. Where do you draw the line?!

What about the hundreds/thousands of people all over England who have posted Madeleine McCann jokes to their Facebook (in fact, I'm pretty sure there were Facebook pages set up just for this.) Princess Diana jokes. Michael Jackson jokes. "Dead baby" jokes. Those crappy "why did the girl fall off the swing" jokes. Are people who made these jokes all going to be at risk of being jailed for it, now? As I said, where do you draw the line?

For the record, I don't think I've ever found any of the above-mentioned jokes funny. But humour is subjective. If I'm uncomfortable with someone else's sense of humour, I'll probably avoid being in that person's company (or, in this case, I'd not be friends with them on Facebook.) You can't control what people do and don't find funny. He wasn't harming anyone, it's not like he was posting it on the family's Facebook pages or anything.

It's a really stupid and dangerous precedent to be setting, in my opinion.

Wholeheartedly agree with that. A very worrying thing. Imagine in a few more years if it continues like that.

The bleedin' report button on boards will go direct to the feckin' guards.

Rayne Wooney · 08-10-2012 9:23pm

chatterpillar wrote: »

I'm shocked that yer man was even brought to court because of the Facebook thing - never mind being jailed for it.

Presumably this fella will lose his job (if he has one) - if not, he'll be pretty much unemployable. For making a crap joke, on his own Facebook page?! The punishment way exceeds the "crime" - destroying his life, over making some stupid joke.

I assume that this is the first case of its kind - how was he even to know? What law was he breaking, for that matter? It's completely wrong.

I wouldn't be as insensitive as to make jokes about this little girl, but I've made (and laughed at) some fairly distasteful jokes in my time. Where do you draw the line?!

What about the hundreds/thousands of people all over England who have posted Madeleine McCann jokes to their Facebook (in fact, I'm pretty sure there were Facebook pages set up just for this.) Princess Diana jokes. Michael Jackson jokes. "Dead baby" jokes. Those crappy "why did the girl fall off the swing" jokes. Are people who made these jokes all going to be at risk of being jailed for it, now? As I said, where do you draw the line?

For the record, I don't think I've ever found any of the above-mentioned jokes funny. But humour is subjective. If I'm uncomfortable with someone else's sense of humour, I'll probably avoid being in that person's company (or, in this case, I'd not be friends with them on Facebook.) You can't control what people do and don't find funny. He wasn't harming anyone, it's not like he was posting it on the family's Facebook pages or anything.

It's a really stupid and dangerous precedent to be setting, in my opinion.

I believe he is unemployed.

The police charged him with breaching Section 27 of the Communications Act, namely sending a public electronic communication which is grossly offensive.
At the end of the day, that is the law, and he has broken it.

I will say he was very unlucky, the judge made an example of him.

steve9859 · 08-10-2012 9:31pm

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

I will say he was very unlucky, the judge made an example of him.

I don't really have a problem with it. A few more examples are made, and people might start thinking twice about posting and twittering that kind of stuff. It's about time some boundaries of behaviour were set, just the same as there are behavioural boundaries when you're walking down the street. The Internet shouldn't be some place where anything goes.

They need to track down some of the people involved in some of the tragic on-line bullying cases recently as well, and throw the book at them

Rayne Wooney · 08-10-2012 9:38pm

steve9859 wrote: »

I don't really have a problem with it. A few more examples are made, and people might start thinking twice about posting and twittering that kind of stuff. It's about time some boundaries of behaviour were set, just the same as there are behavioural boundaries when you're walking down the street. The Internet shouldn't be some place where anything goes.

They need to track down some of the people involved in some of the tragic on-line bullying cases recently as well, and throw the book at them

Yes they do but it can be hard to track them sometimes.

But some people are not even reading the facts correctly, this imbecile posted the sick 'joke' on his own Public Facebook page. Anyone of Facebook's 1 billion members could read this 'joke' and hundreds of people reported it before it was taken down. That's why he got the book thrown at him.

Latchy · 08-10-2012 9:39pm

steve9859 wrote: »

I don't really have a problem with it. A few more examples are made, and people might start thinking twice about posting and twittering that kind of stuff. It's about time some boundaries of behaviour were set, just the same as there are behavioural boundaries when you're walking down the street. The Internet shouldn't be some place where anything goes.

They need to track down some of the people involved in some of the tragic on-line bullying cases recently as well, and throw the book at them

Exactly , if lines and boundary's are not drawn somewhere then everybody is fair game to open abuse by people who get their kicks and rocks of by attention seeking trolling like this .

up for anything · 08-10-2012 9:43pm

He also wrote comments of a sexually explicit nature about the five-year-old

Bloody fool nearly deserves jail. If I were a member of the girl's family, I'd bide my time patiently.

Mickeroo · 08-10-2012 10:27pm

My name is URL wrote: »

He posted it on his own Facebook page. If he had posted it on a family member's page then I could understand the outrage. People will have had to go looking for the post just so they could be offended by it.

And the mob of 50 people that descended on the wrong address are guilty of a more serious crime than making a tasteless joke. Presumably they intended to dish out their own punishment.

His face has been plastered on the April Jones FB page too. The comments people the baying mob are posting on his picture are absolutely disgusting, it's a witch hunt, plain and simple. The ironic thing is they don't seem to realise what they're saying could land them in jail too if someone made a big deal about it.

lukesmom · 08-10-2012 10:31pm

The stupidity in this world is unbelievable.

My name is URL · 08-10-2012 10:33pm

The fact that the police have stated that he was arrested for 'his own safety' says all you need to know about the mentality and intelligence of those emotionally attached enough to the whole story that they'd react in such a way to a stupid Facebook post.

The media as usual are the real scumbags in all of this.

TeddyTedson · 08-10-2012 10:38pm

My name is URL wrote: »

The fact that the police have stated that he was arrested for 'his own safety' says all you need to know about the mentality and intelligence of those emotionally attached enough to the whole story that they'd react in such a way to a stupid Facebook post.

The media as usual are the real scumbags in all of this.

You're right Earl.
The media love these type of stories and watching the horror story unfold.

Why do newspapers never report good news stories on the main page! I would actually like to read about good news!

lukesmom · 08-10-2012 11:04pm

up for anything wrote: »

He also wrote comments of a sexually explicit nature about the five-year-old

Bloody fool nearly deserves jail. If I were a member of the girl's family, I'd bide my time patiently.

^ this

Agree with above.
If it was an offensive stupid joke fine but the fact that he was thick enough to put
5 year old girl & sexually explicit content together deserves the book thrown at him and I don't care how drunk he was. Been around drunk lads telling jokes, a lot of sexually explicit nature but NEVER about kids and sex.
Never ever.

ibarelycare · 08-10-2012 11:07pm

Jesus if that's the case I hope no Gardai have access to Nein 11 :rolleyes:

BorneTobyWilde · 08-10-2012 11:08pm

Why do people use there name on facebook?
I have facebook, And a user name
Geez,
People don't use there name here, Why there/?
Facebook is dangerous, People putting there name address phone numbers
I have fictional name, address and number
o did i break a rule,

heavyballs · 08-10-2012 11:09pm

Imo, there is too fine a line between Thick and Sick,this chap is defo more on the thick side but serving time is too much.

alphabeat · 08-10-2012 11:13pm

im glad the stupid pr1ck got jail , anyone that fcuking stupid deserves it.

ibarelycare · 08-10-2012 11:15pm

alphabeat wrote: »

im glad the stupid pr1ck got jail , anyone that fcuking stupid deserves it.

So stupidity is a crime now?

SantryRed · 08-10-2012 11:21pm

What was the exact thing he said?

tan11ie · 08-10-2012 11:22pm

ibarelycare wrote: »

So stupidity is a crime now?

Maybe he is being used as an example for others not to follow,some people need to realise that it's not acceptable to sit behind a screen and dish out whatever crap you want.

I wonder if he would have the guts to tell his sick jokes face to face to April's family?

4zn76tysfajdxp · 08-10-2012 11:24pm

up for anything wrote: »

Bloody fool nearly deserves jail. If I were a member of the girl's family, I'd bide my time patiently.

Yes, for commiting assault is much more preferable to making a joke.

lukesmom wrote: »

Agree with above.
If it was an offensive stupid joke fine but the fact that he was thick enough to put
5 year old girl & sexually explicit content together deserves the book thrown at him and I don't care how drunk he was. Been around drunk lads telling jokes, a lot of sexually explicit nature but NEVER about kids and sex.
Never ever.

Probably shouldn't hang around my friends then. Wouldn't want you calling the police on us because you don't like some jokes.

Mountainsandh · 08-10-2012 11:36pm

it must be on here I was skimming a thread which mentioned the Stephen Fry's quote on "being offended", very good. (http://www.aaanything.net/wp-content/gallery/quotes-for-2012/im_offended_by_that_by_stephen_fry.jpg)
The young man shouldn't have been jailed, reprimanded maybe. Charged/jailed is ridiculous.

extra gravy · 08-10-2012 11:50pm

This reminds me of an argument I had with a friend of mine who was at a Tommy Tiernan gig a couple of years ago, during which he made some jokes about people with Down's Syndrome. My friend found it distasteful and felt that he shouldn't be allowed to make jokes about people with disabilities. My view is that anything goes when it comes to humour. If you find it offensive, then you are CHOOSING to find it offensive. Your taste in humour is just like your taste in food - subjective. Trying to put a limit on what should and shouldn't be used in jokes is moving dangerously close to inhibiting free speech. The same people who are happy to see this man go to jail would be the very same people that would be complaining if their right to free speech had been affected. As others posters have said, it is setting a dangerous precedent and reflects a court system that is more concerned with keeping the baying public happy rather than administering actual justice.

Allyall · 08-10-2012 11:54pm

SantryRed wrote: »

What was the exact thing he said?

That seems to be irrelevant. It seems that British law now allows People to be locked up because people may find their opinion offensive.

What a load of absolute F******G tripe. As for the people saying he deserved it, What did he say? How can you make that call if the only info is, he retold an old (sick) joke, updated?

So if a large enough group of people in the UK decide they find Jedward offensive, and want to call to their hotel room to kick crap out of them, Will Jedward be Arrested for their own safety, and then jailed for 12 weeks?
I doubt it.

You may not like someone's opinion, but how dare you start dictating what they can and can't say.
If you deem it to be offensive enough, would you get a group out too?

AAGGHH.. When would it stop? RIDICULOUS!

As someone pointed out, other people could be arrested for typing disgusting comments about the commenter on FB..

BAN FACEBOOK.

Guns don't kill people... People do..:pac::pac:

ArmaniJeanss · 09-10-2012 12:01am

It's the sort of joke which a shockcomic like Frankie Boyle would make, but 'known' comedians seem to have some sort of 'freedom of speech' protection.

Wasn't there similar stuff during the London riots where people would drunkenly post 'lets wreck Norwich high street' on their FB as a very weak joke, and were brought to court and jailed for inciting a riot?

El Weirdo · 09-10-2012 12:02am

SantryRed wrote: »

What was the exact thing he said?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/08/april-jones-matthew-woods-jailed

Among Woods's comments were: "Who in their right mind would abduct a ginger kid?" In another he said: "I woke up this morning in the back of a transit van with two beautiful little girls, I found April in a hopeless place." He also wrote: "Could have just started the greatest Facebook argument EVER. April fools, who wants Maddie? I love April Jones." Also posted were comments of a more sexually explicit nature.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it reviewed the file on Monday morning and was content with the prosecution going ahead.

Tasteless and unfunny? Yes.

Worthy of jailtime? Fuck no.

Absolutely ridiculous. Is anyone that posts a joke on Sikipedia now in danger of being prosecuted? As someone mentioned earlier on this thread (I think), Frankie Boyle may as well shut down his Twitter account.

up for anything · 09-10-2012 12:23am

Kolton Gray Peephole wrote: »

Yes, for commiting assault is much more preferable to making a joke.

Did I mention assault?

It's a big internet out there and plenty of ways to use it without physically touching a person or getting jail time for offending people.

lukesmom · 09-10-2012 12:26am

Kolton Gray Peephole wrote: »

up for anything wrote: »

Bloody fool nearly deserves jail. If I were a member of the girl's family, I'd bide my time patiently.

Yes, for commiting assault is much more preferable to making a joke.

lukesmom wrote: »

Agree with above.
If it was an offensive stupid joke fine but the fact that he was thick enough to put
5 year old girl & sexually explicit content together deserves the book thrown at him and I don't care how drunk he was. Been around drunk lads telling jokes, a lot of sexually explicit nature but NEVER about kids and sex.
Never ever.

Probably shouldn't hang around my friends then. Wouldn't want you calling the police on us because you don't like some jokes.

That's bulls*it I love jokes! Don't find ones about little girls and sexual acts funny though! Do you???

El Weirdo · 09-10-2012 12:32am

lukesmom wrote: »

That's bulls*it I love jokes! Don't find ones about little girls and sexual acts funny though! Do you???

So there's some jokes you don't like then?

I don't particularly find knock-knock jokes funny, should I call plod if someone posts one on my Facebook page?

Mickeroo · 09-10-2012 12:36am

lukesmom wrote: »

That's bulls*it I love jokes! Don't find ones about little girls and sexual acts funny though! Do you???

Depends on the joke tbh. Is it any worse than jokes about priests and little boys? They don't seem to cause much outrage.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 09-10-2012 12:37am

up for anything wrote: »

Did I mention assault? It's a big internet out there and plenty of ways to use it without physically touching a person or getting jail time for offending people.

So why do you think the girl's family should be "biding their time" over this joke?

lukesmom wrote: »

That's bulls*it I love jokes! Don't find ones about little girls and sexual acts funny though! Do you???

Sometimes, sure. It doesn't matter what we find "funny" though, this is a matter of protecting someone's right to make those jokes.

Battleborn · 09-10-2012 12:39am

Everybody has different humour and is entitled to that right,even if their jokes are sick..however posting them on sites dedicated to help find the child or for people who are showing their concern and thoughts for the matter is just downright immature and insulting..however I don't agree on jail that's a little extreme but that's the way internet life is going nowadays.He's not the first person it's happened to and won't be the last....

Mickeroo · 09-10-2012 12:40am

Battleborn wrote: »

Everybody has different humour and is entitled to that right,even if their jokes are sick..however posting them on sites dedicated to help find the child or for people who are showing their concern and thoughts for the matter is just downright immature and insulting..however I don't agree on jail that's a little extreme but that's the way internet life is going nowadays,and he's not the first person it's happened to and won't be the last....

He posted it on his own FB page, not on an April Jones site afaik.....

El Weirdo · 09-10-2012 12:40am

Battleborn wrote: »

..however posting them on sites dedicated to help find the child or for people who are showing their concern and thoughts for the matter is just downright immature and insulting..

He didn't though.

lukesmom · 09-10-2012 12:45am

Kolton Gray Peephole wrote: »

up for anything wrote: »

Did I mention assault? It's a big internet out there and plenty of ways to use it without physically touching a person or getting jail time for offending people.

So why do you think the girl's family should be "biding their time" over this joke?

lukesmom wrote: »

That's bulls*it I love jokes! Don't find ones about little girls and sexual acts funny though! Do you???

Sometimes, sure. It doesn't matter what we find "funny" though, this is a matter of protecting someone's right to make those jokes.

Well I've a little girl and just don't find this type of joke funny. Sex and little girls just don't mix in jokes and never should. But thats just my opinion. I'm sure there are, like yourself, some others (hopefully not too many) who can have a laugh about little girls and sexual acts. I find it repulsive.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 09-10-2012 12:53am

lukesmom wrote: »

Well I've a little girl and just don't find this type of joke funny. Sex and little girls just don't mix in jokes and never should. But thats just my opinion. I'm sure there are, like yourself, some others (hopefully not too many) who can have a laugh about little girls and sexual acts. I find it repulsive.

That's fine. You can be as repulsed as you like. I just have an issue with judiciary getting involved and imprisoning a man for making jokes. I mean, that's just ridiculous.

WindSock · 09-10-2012 1:09am

lukesmom wrote: »

Well I've a little girl and just don't find this type of joke funny. Sex and little girls just don't mix in jokes and never should. But thats just my opinion. I'm sure there are, like yourself, some others (hopefully not too many) who can have a laugh about little girls and sexual acts. I find it repulsive.

Never should is generally a pre-requisite for any offensive joke. I am sure you have laughed before at plenty of jokes that others are repulsed by.

12 weeks in Jail for offensive web posts about poor April Jones

Comments